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Friday Grocery Favs

It’s Friday! Yay! I thought I would do a Friday Favorites.

Some favorite food items I have found and enjoy. I wanted to share some with you.

strawberry rhubarb

Chobani is great, but this yoghurt is awesome. It is called noosa.  It is so rich, creamy, tangy, and sweet. The texture is smooth like no other yoghurt or yogurt I have tried.  I am a rhubarb fanatic and this flavor is so tasty. I like it with a bit of granola and some fruit in the morning. There are a bunch of flavors to choose from and so far I enjoy them all. It does cost a bit more so look out for the sales, but it is worth it.

Naked Juice Green Monster

So I know it looks scary, but it is muy delicioso! You need to just try it. It is full of fruits and green vegetables. Get a few fruits and veggies in by enjoying a serving of this genius concoction. It is great when you add a bit of it to a morning smoothie. Yum!

Trader Joes Chevre with Honey

The chevre like no other chevre. It has honey. Forget about the blueberry one, just focus on the honey chevre. Trader Joe’s picked a good one here. It is wonderful on a piece of toast or a cracker. Add it to a sandwich for a tangy, but sweet addition. You won’t regret it.

nutella

Ah, nutella. Even though you are in everyone’s cupboards now. I still love you. I guess we have to thank Giada Di Laurentiis for making you popular in the US.  At least from my perspective anyway, before Giada you had to know an Italian to know about nutella. Even though it has been in stores for years. You are a wonderful snack. Grazie!

Trader Joes Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Trader Joe’s has awesome broth. Chicken, beef, and vegetable are all stellar. They don’t hold a candle to the broth that you are used to buying. This stock is robust and really adds to your recipes. Unlike some of the others on the market where you might as well just add water. Available in regular or low sodium.

Hy Vee Reduced Sodium Kosher Dill Pickle Spears

I cannot believe how hard it is to find pickles without a bunch of extra stuff in them like High Fructose Corn Syrup (HCFC) or a ton of salt. I just want basic pickles, but I don’t want to can them myself. These spears from Hy Vee are a good pick.

Trader Joes Plum tomatoes with basil

Love these plum tomatoes from Trader Joes. They are not kidding about the basil, it is in every can.

DeiFratelli Tomato Sauces

Yep, more tomatoes. I love this brand of canned tomatoes. All natural without any of the high fructose crap syrup and made with sea salt. They have pizza, marinara, tomato paste, and many other tomato based canned products.

Celestial Bengal Spice Herbal Tea

This is my first pic when I want a great cup of tea. Spice filled tea is robust and hearty for a tea. Reminiscent of a good chai. Caffeine Free! Have a cup before bed.

More posts soon… I promise.

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2013 in favorites, kitchen, market, random, tips

 

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Tavel: Orlando

Last fall we spent a long weekend with friends in Orlando.

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Mythos – Universal Orlando: There are a ton of food options in Orlando. There are a ton of food options at the theme parks. While visiting, convenience often is preferred over waiting in line for the restaurants. While I would have preferred The Kitchen at the Hard Rock or Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, this day we decided that we would eat at Mythos. Located in The Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure right near the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  It’s website boasts the winning several awards, including “Best Theme Park Restaurant.’ We booked on Open Table and were able to walk right in without a wait.

good eats universal orlando

Mythos Filet

mythos

Buffalo BBQ Fried Chicken Wrap.

The service was decent, the chairs were ungodly heavy, but the food overall was solid. Conclusion: A good place to stop for a decent meal at Islands of Adventure. Make a reservation and avoid the wait, especially during peak hours.

Deets: Mythos, The Lost Continent, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida

Cafe Tu Tu Tango: We stopped here based on a recommendation of a good friend who travels frequently to Orlando. He loves Cafe Tu Tu Tango and knew that we would enjoy it too. Inside you will find an eclectic fusion of artists at work creating original pieces of art while surrounded by diners enjoying their dinner.

orlando florida eats international drive

One of the delectable items I had on the Cafe’s menu was the Duck Confit Salad. Interestingly enough, when it arrived I didn’t expect it to be more of a flatbread with a salad on top. However, the description on the menu was accurate “Dried cranberries, goat cheese, pine nuts, balsamic vinaigrette; on caramelized onion flatbread.” I must have just been thrown by the word “salad.” Regardless, it did not matter. After my first bite I was in heaven. It was amazing. The onion flatbread was hot and crispy. The duck was juicy and tender. Everything on this dish worked together to make me a very happy man. Chad was lucky to get a bite of this one. As I type, my mouth is watering. Conclusion: A must stop just for this flatbread if nothing else… well the drinks, and the art, and the dancing. Just go.

orlando eats

Deets: Cafe Tu Tu Tango, 8625 International Drive, Orlando, Florida

clouds beach waves beautiful shot of cocoa beach

We took a day trip to Cocoa Beach. A shorter trip from Orlando than the famous Clearwater Beach, but  for a guy from the land locked Midwest it was great. A great day on a beautiful beach.

Cocoa Beach Tips

1. Check out Lori Wilson State Park for free parking, restrooms, and easy access to the beach.

2. Research your food options and business hours before you get to your destination. Especially if you are on a tight time frame. We were going to enjoy lunch at Jazzy’s Mainly Lobster. We arrived and find it closed for the day due to some bad info on the internet. Have a back up plan.

3. Check out the huge Ron Jon Surf Shop, they have a huge selection for all your beach needs. A huge selection of Toms and OluKai footwear.

4. Dolphins. We were lucky enough to spot some while eating lunch at the Sunset Waterfront Grill & Bar on the river side of the island.

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More adventures to come…

 

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